Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller met with Eni CEO Paolo Scaroni at Gazprom’s headquarters in Moscow.

Following also the talks held last Monday in Milan in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the parties discussed the bilateral co-operation between Gazprom and Eni, focusing in particular on the South Stream project.

During the meeting, Paolo Scaroni said, “our companies are strategic partners which have a long history of successful co-operation.. The construction of the South Stream pipeline will represent a new step for the development of this strategic partnership. This new project is of great significance for the security of energy supply to Europe‘.

Particular attention was paid to the feasibility study of the offshore stretch of the South Stream project which will be completed shortly. This study will represent the principal basis on which the partners will make the final investment decision for the offshore section.

Eni and Gazprom also discussed the main principles for EdF’s entry into the project. In particular, it was agreed that EdF’s entry will take place through the transfer of a participation interest of up to 20% of the joint company. Eni and Gazprom will soon start negotiations with EdF and aim to finalise all the agreements ahead of their signature at the International Economic Forum of Saint Petersburg in June 2010.

Tags: Eni Norge AS, Gazprom OAO